Combination cigarette and match holder

ABSTRACT

A combination cigarette and match holder having a housing provided with a cigarette holding portion, and a match holding portion provided with an opening in the housing for passing matches therethrough and a hinged flap for selectively covering and uncovering the opening. The opening is arranged in a side wall of the housing adjacent an end wall thereof and the front wall, while being spaced from the rear wall so as to form a restricted opening. A tab on the flap cooperates with a slot in the housing for retaining the flap in a position covering the opening. An insert element is arranged within the housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the cigarette and match holding portions. This insert may be constructed from a flat piece of material as a longitudinally extending member folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.

United States Patent 91 German [45] Aug. 14, 1973 [76] Inventor: Ronald L. German, 5131 Blairwood Dr., La Palma, Calif. 90620 [22] Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 211,451

[52] US. Cl 206/48, 206/38 B, 229/51 TC [51] Int. Cl. 865d 79/00 [58] Field of Search 206/38 A, 38 B, 41 B,

206/41.1R, 41.2 R,4l.2 B,4l.3, 41.4; 229/7 R, 17 R, 17 B, 51 TC, 51 SC [56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,426,955 2/1969 Olson 229/17 R 1,023,054 4/1912 Walsh 206/48 1,360,927 11/1920 Golonka 206/38 A 1,167,768 l/1916 Lochner.... 206/38 A 1,683,664 9/1928 Graham..... 206/38 B X 614,428 ll/l898 Humann 206/48 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 286,130 3/1928 Great Britain 206/48 242,557 ll/l925 Great Britain 206/48 Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney-l-larvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT A combination cigarette and match holder having a housing provided with a cigarette holding portion, and a match holding portion provided with an opening in the housing for passing matches therethrough and a hinged flap for selectively covering and uncovering the opening. The opening is arranged in a side wall of the housing adjacent an end wall thereof and the front wall, while being spaced from the rear wall so as to form a restricted opening. A tab on the flap cooperates with a slot in the housing for retaining the flap in a position covering the opening. An insert element is arranged within the housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the cigarette and match holding portions. This insert may be constructed from a flat piece of material as a longitudinally extending member folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,307

2 Shoots-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,307

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5

9 Fig.7

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a combination article holder, and specifically to a combination cigarette and match holder.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is known to combine cigarette and match holders into a single package. Embodiments are known which employ a holder slidable relative to the package housing. Examples of packages using this approach are found in US. Pat. Nos. 1,534,519, 1,604,296 and 2,811,247. Another known approach is to have both the cigarette and match holding portions slidable with respect to a cover portion, as is shown in, for example, US. Pat. No. 666,732. Yet another known approach is to retain the matches in a clip arranged at the bottom of the package, and normally cover and protect the matches with a hinged cover member. An example of this latter approach may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,] 15,241.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved combined article holder specifically for cigarettes and matches which is more convenient to use and economical to manufacture than the known holders.

This and other objects are achieved according to the present invention by providing a combination cigarette and match holder having a housing provided with a first article portion and a second article holding portion provided with an opening in the housing for passing article's therethrough and means for selectively covering and uncovering the opening. Specifically, the first article holding portion is a cigarette holding portion, and the second article holding portion is a match holding portion.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the covering means is a flap hinged to the housing and provided with a tab. The housing is provided with a slot for receiving the tab and retaining the flap in a position covering the opening. The housing preferably has a rectangular configuration with front and rear walls, and a pair of side walls and end walls. The opening and slot are arranged in one side wall adjacent one end wall and one of the front and rear walls, respectively. The opening is spaced from the other of the front and rear walls so as to form a restricted opening. A strip constructed from a material suitable for igniting a match struck thereagainst is mounted on the other side wall.

The one side wall provided with the slot and opening is preferably constructed from inner and outer layers of sheet material. The outer layer has a severed portion forming the flap, and the inner layer is provided with the opening in the slot.

An insert element is preferably arranged within the housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the cigarette and match holding portions. This insert element may be a longitudinally extending member constructed from a flat piece of material folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more 'fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a left-front perspective view showing a combination cigarette and match holder according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right-front perspective view showing the holder of FIG. 1 with the top cover member in its open position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary right-rear perspective view showing the covering flap in its open position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an insert member according to the present invention in its unfolded position.

FIG. 7 is a right-front perspective view showing the insert member of FIG. 6 in its folded position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a combination cigarette and match holder 10 has a housing 12 having a first article, or cigarette holding portion 14 and a second article, or match holding portion 16. Portion 16 is provided with an opening 18 (FIG. 3) in housing 12 for passing articles such as matches 19 therethrough. A means 20 is provided for selectively covering and uncovering opening 18.

Covering means 20 has a flap 22 integrally hinged in a known manner to housing 12 at point 24. Flap 22 is provided with a tab 26, and housing 12 is provided with a slot 28 for receiving tab 26 and retaining flap 22 in a position covering the opening 18, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Housing 12 has a rectangular configuration with a front wall 30 and a rear wall 32, and a pair of side walls 34, 36 and end walls 38, 40. Opening 18 and slot 28 are arranged in one side wall 34 adjacent end wall 40 and a selected one of the front and rear walls 30, 32, respectively. As shown in the drawings, opening 18 is arranged adjacent front wall 30 and is spaced from rear wall 32 so as to form a restricted opening with respect to the cross section of the match holding space 77 (FIG. 7) of second article holding portion 16. Slot 28 is arranged adjacent rear wall 32. A strip 41 constructed from a material suitable for igniting a match 19 struck thereagainst is mounted on side wall 36.

Housing 12 may be further provided with a top portion 42 integrally hinged to rear wall 32 in a manner known in cigarette package construction for permitting access to cigarettes 45 in the first article holding portion 14.

Side wall 34 is constructed with an inner layer 46 and an outer layer 48 of sheet material as is customary in constructing boxes, including cigarette boxes, from a suitable known material such as, for example, cardboard. The cardboard may be fastened together at suitable points in a known manner, as by suitable known adhesives. Outer layer 48 has a severed portion 49 forming flap 22, and inner layer 46 is provided with walls 50 defining opening 18 and walls 51 defining slot 28.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, reference numeral 52 designates an insert element according to the present invention. Insert element 52 is intended to be arranged within housing 12, and is provided with a wall 54 separating and partially defining the holding portions 14 and 16.

Insert element 52 is a longitudinally extending member 56 constructed from a flat piece 58 of a suitable material, such as cardboard, which is folded along four transverse lines 60, 62, 64, and 66, and two longitudinal lines 68, 70. When folded in the manner shown in FIG. 7, these fold lines form walls 72, 74, and 76 defining a space 77 for holding matches 19. Longitudinal fold lines 68, 70 form flanges 78, 80, and a wall 82 which partially form a space 83 for holding cigarettes 45. Wall 82 may be provided with a cut-out portion 84 to be arranged with respect to housing 12 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. This cut-out portion 84 facilitates the removal of cigarettes from holding portion 14.

When insert element 52 is arranged in housing 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings, a package 86 of cigarettes 45 may be placed herein by, for example, the consumer. Alternatively, cigarettes 45 and matches 19 may be packaged directly in holder by a manufacturer. Appropriate printed matter may be put on the housing 12 of the resulting package. The resulting holder 10 is approximately the same size and uses similar fabrication techniques as cigarette packages presently on the market, and is therefore convenient to use and economical to manufacture. The user will not have to worry about having a match. Furthermore, it is possible with the combination cigarette and match holder 10 according to the present invention to, for example, mail cigarettes to points domestic and foreign without the necessity of wrapping separate matches in the mailing package.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combination cigarette and match holder, comprising a housing having a first article holding portion, and a second article holding portion provided with an opening in said housing for passing articles therethrough and means for selectively covering and uncovering the opening, the covering means including a flap hinged to said housing and provided with a tab, said housing being provided with a slot for receiving said tab and retaining said flap in a position covering the opening, said housing having a rectangular configuration with front and rear walls, and a pair of side walls and end walls, said opening and slot being arranged in one side wall adjacent one end wall and one of said front and rear walls, respectively, the opening spaced from the other of said front and rear walls so as to form a restricted opening, a strip constructed from a material suitable for igniting a match struck thereagainst being mounted on the other side wall, said one side wall being constructed with inner and outer layers of sheet material, the outer layer having a severed portion forming said flap, and the inner layer provided with walls defining said opening and said slot.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is further provided with a top portion hinged to said rear wall for permitting access to articles in the first article holding portion.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2, further including an insert element arranged within said housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the article holding portions.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said insert element is a longitudinally extending member constructed from a flat piece of material folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said first article holding portion is a cigarette holding portion and said second article holding portion is a match holding portion.

6. A structure as defined in claim 4, further including an insert element arranged within said housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the article holding portions.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said insert element is a longitudinally extending member constructed from a flat piece of material folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.

8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said first article holding portion is a cigarette holding portion,

and said second article holding portion is a match holding portion.

9. A combination cigarette and match holder, comprising a housing having first and second article holding portions, 'each portion separated from the other, and the second article holding portion provided with an opening in said housing for passing articles therethrough and means for selectively covering and uncovering the opening, the covering means including a flap hinged to said housing and provided with a tab, and said housing being provided with a slot for receiving said tab and retaining said flap in a position covering the opening, said housing having from and rear walls, and a pair of side walls and end walls, said opening and slot being arranged in one side wall adjacent one end wall and one of said front and rear walls, respectively, said one side wall being constructed with inner and outer layers of sheet material, the outer layer having a severed portion forming said flap, and the inner layer provided with walls defining said opening and said slot.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, further including an insert element arranged within said housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the article holding portions.

11. A structure as defined in claim 10, wherein said insert element is a longitudinally extending member constructed from a flat piece of material folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.

12. A structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said housing is further provided with a top portion hinged to said rear wall for permitting access to articles in the first article holding portion, and the opening is spaced from the other of the front and rear walls for forming a restricted opening.

13. A structure as defined in claim 12, wherein said first article holding portion is a cigarette holding portion and said second article holding portion is a match holding portion, and a strip constructed from a material suitable for igniting a match thereagainst is mounted on the other side wall.

l i 1' ll 

1. A combination cigarette and match holder, comprising a housing having a first article holding portion, and a second article holding portion provided with an opening in said housing for passing articles therethrough and means for selectively covering and uncovering the opening, the covering means including a flap hinged to said housing and provided with a tab, said housing being provided with a slot for receiving said tab and retaining said flap in a position covering the opening, said housing having a rectangular configuration with front and rear walls, and a pair of side walls and end walls, said opening and slot being arranged in one side wall adjacent one end wall and one of said front and rear walls, respectively, the opening spaced from the other of said front and rear walls so as to form a restricted opening, a strip constructed from a material suitable for igniting a match struck thereagainst being mounted on the other side wall, said one side wall being constructed with inner and outer layers of sheet material, the outer layer having a severed portion forming said flap, and the inner layer provided with walls defining said opening and said slot.
 2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is further provided with a top portion hinged to said rear wall for permitting access to articles in the first article holding portion.
 3. A structure as defined in claim 2, further including an insert element arranged within said housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the article holding portions.
 4. A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said insert element is a longitudinally extending member constructed from a flat piece of material folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.
 5. A structure as defined in claiM 4, wherein said first article holding portion is a cigarette holding portion and said second article holding portion is a match holding portion.
 6. A structure as defined in claim 4, further including an insert element arranged within said housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the article holding portions.
 7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said insert element is a longitudinally extending member constructed from a flat piece of material folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.
 8. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said first article holding portion is a cigarette holding portion, and said second article holding portion is a match holding portion.
 9. A combination cigarette and match holder, comprising a housing having first and second article holding portions, each portion separated from the other, and the second article holding portion provided with an opening in said housing for passing articles therethrough and means for selectively covering and uncovering the opening, the covering means including a flap hinged to said housing and provided with a tab, and said housing being provided with a slot for receiving said tab and retaining said flap in a position covering the opening, said housing having front and rear walls, and a pair of side walls and end walls, said opening and slot being arranged in one side wall adjacent one end wall and one of said front and rear walls, respectively, said one side wall being constructed with inner and outer layers of sheet material, the outer layer having a severed portion forming said flap, and the inner layer provided with walls defining said opening and said slot.
 10. A structure as defined in claim 9, further including an insert element arranged within said housing and provided with a wall separating and partially defining the article holding portions.
 11. A structure as defined in claim 10, wherein said insert element is a longitudinally extending member constructed from a flat piece of material folded along four transverse and two longitudinal fold lines.
 12. A structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said housing is further provided with a top portion hinged to said rear wall for permitting access to articles in the first article holding portion, and the opening is spaced from the other of the front and rear walls for forming a restricted opening.
 13. A structure as defined in claim 12, wherein said first article holding portion is a cigarette holding portion and said second article holding portion is a match holding portion, and a strip constructed from a material suitable for igniting a match thereagainst is mounted on the other side wall. 